Electric-light-cord take-up.



I vweufoz I'd/WWW;

\ n mzaaeo U A. w. PRATT. ELECTRIC LIGHT CORD TAKE-UP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15, 1908.

906,286. Patented Dec.8,1908.

2 5 21 24 {4' 5 2 I! I Z5 .19. Z? 55/ 29 JJ/ 29 1/7 20 Z7 I 4 1 m I ABRAHAM W. PRATT, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

ELEGTBIC-LIGHT-CORD TAKE-UP. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed February 15, 1908. Serial No. 41$,C6'i

To (LILL- whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM W. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented a new and useful Electrie-Light-Cord Take-Up, of

which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to hangers for electric lamps and other electrical devices and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character by means of which the lamp may be conveniently supported at any desired height.

-A further object of the invention is to provide ahanger particularly designed for attachment to a ceiling cut-out or rosette, said hanger being providedwith a spring actuated drum upon which the flexible suspension cord or cable is wound or unwound as the lamp'is raised or lowered.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as'to increase their utility, durability and elii'ciency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture. 4

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description, it being understood that various changes inform, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

' In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electric lamp hanger constructed in accordance with my ,invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3is a transverse'sectional view. Fig, 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the bearing sleeves.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings. The improved hanger forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a supporting frame consisting of spaced longitudinal bars 5 and 6 connected by end pieces 7, the latterbeing provided with intermediate enlargements 7.

"Extending longitudinally of the frame is a relatively stationary shaft 10 upon which is mounted for rotation a reel or drum forming a support for the adjacent terminals of a suspension cord or conductor 11 carrying an incandescent lamp 12. The reel or drdfn' comprises spacedheads or disks 13 connected by longitudinal rods 14, there beingspaced tact rings 23' disks is disposed at the center of the reel and having peripheral notches or recesses 16 formed therein for the reception of the rods 14, as shown. I

Secured to a lug or projection 17 on the shaft 10 is one end of a spiral spring 18 the opposite end of which is rigidly secured to the adjacent rod 14, as indicated at 19, the disks-.15 being disposed on opposite sides of the spring and serving to prevent springing or buckling of the latter.

Secured to the inner faces of the end pieces 7 are bearing sleeves 2O havihg annular flanges 21 for engagement with corresponding recesses formed in. said end pieces, said bearing sleeves being reinforced and strengthened by the provision of filling blocks 23 preferably formed of wood,'gutta pereha or other insulating material and havingangular recesses 23 formed therein for the reception of the correspondingly squared terminals of the shaft 10, as shown.

Secured tothe outer faces of the heads 13 are circular contact plates 235 which bear against the sleeves or contact members 20 and complete the circuit through the lamp.

One end of each conductor 2% is extended through a longitudinal recess 25 formed in the upper longitudinal bar 5 of the supporting frame and is thence bent downwardly outside the adjacent end piece 7 and thence extended inwardly through an opening 25 in said end .piece for contact with the rear face 26 of the adjacent bearing sleeve '20, there being a pocket or chamber 27 formed in each end piece 7 for the reception of the terminals of the conductors 24, as shown. The conductors 24L are extended through an opening or aperture 28 in the center of the bar 5 for connection with a ceiling rosette of the usual. construction. Secured to the disks or heads 13 are threaded pins 29 having their outer ends connected with the CQI1- and their inner ends connected with the adjacent terminals of'the suspension cord 11. It will thus be seen that the current has an unobstructed passage from' the conductors 24 through the lamp 12 regardless of the position of the reel or drum.

As a means for holding the lamp in adjusted position there is provided a spring pressed bolt 29 having one endthereof provided with an gagement with suitable sockets or depressions 30 formed in a metallic reinforcing enlarged head the contact face of which is curved or rounded for en-i band 31. One end of the bolt 29 is arranged in a casing or housing 32 secured to the adjacent end piece 7 of the supporting frame, while the oppositeend thereof extends through an opening in said end piece, as shown, there being a spring 33 interposed between the end piece 7 and theadjacent end of the casing 32 and operatively connected with .the bolt for normally and yieldably holding the head of said bolt in engagement with one of the sockets in the reinforcing ring when the latter is at rest. It will thus be seen that when an initial downward pull is exerted on the suspension cord 11 to effect the adjustment of the lamp the head of the locking bolt will be forced laterally against the tension of thespring 33 out of engagement with the adjacent depression 30 and the spring 18 wound up or laced under tension. When the desired adjustment of the lamp is effected the spring 33 will force the head of the bolt 29 in engagement with the adjacent depression 30 and lock the lamp in adjusted position.

In order to elevate the lamp a slight pullis exerted on the conductor 11 which disengages the locking bolt in the manner before stated, the suspension cord or conductor 11 being wound on the reel by the tension of the spring. 7 a j v The lower longitudinal bar 6 is preferably formed with an elongated slot 34 for the reception of the suspension cord 11, this slot not only serving to guide the conductor 11 on the reel when the atter is rotated but also serving to center said suspension cord with respect to the rec From the foregoing ple, inexpensive and efficient device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view. A

Havin thus described the invention what is claime is: v I

1. In a device of the class described, a supporttin frame includin end pieces having poc ets formed therein, bearing sleeves secured to the end pieces at said pockets, said bearing sleeves constituting contacts, a spring actuated reel mounted for rotation within the supporting frame and provided with annular contacts engaging the bearing sleeves, a conductor having its terminals disposed within the pockets and bearing a ainst said sleeves, and a suspension cor adapted to be wound on the reel and connected with the contacts of the latter.

2. In a device ofthe class described, a supporting frame including end pieces having pockets formed therein, bearing sleeves secured to the end pieces at said pockets, filling blocks carried by the sleeves and having angular recesses formed therein, a stationary shaft seated in said recesses, a reel mounted for rotation on the shaft, contacts description it will beseen that there is provided an extremely simsecured to the reel and engaging the bearing sleeves, a conductor having its terminals seated in the pockets and earing against said sleeves, and a suspension cord adapted I to be wound on the reel and electrically connected with. the contacts on said reel.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame including spaced end pieces having pockets formed therein, bearing sleeves secured to the end pieces at said pockets and constituting contacts, filling blocks arranged within the sleeves and having angular recesses formed therein, a stationary shaft seated in said angular recesses, a spring actuated reel mounted for rotation on the shaft, annular contact rings carried by the reel ductor having its terminals seated Within the pockets for engagement with the beari sleeves, a suspension cord connected wi tfi the annular contact plates, and a locking device carried by the frame and adapted to engage the reel for locking the latter against rotation.

4. In a device pf the class described, a supporting frame, a spring actuated reel mounted for rotation inthe frame, contacts carried by the frame and reel, respectively, a conductor engaging the contacts on the frame, a suspension cord adapted to be Wound on. the reel connected with the contacts on the reel, a

and engaging the sleeves, a conand having its terminalsing de ressions formed therein, and a looking b0 t secured to the frame and adapted to enga e the depressions for locking the reel agamst rotation.

5. In a device of the class described, asup portin frame including longitu 'nal bars connec ed by end pieces, there ein an aperture formed on one of the longitu inal bars, and an elongated slot in the other, bearing sleeves secured to the end pieces and constituting contacts, filling blocks carried by the bearing sleeves, a stationary shaft fastened in the filling blocks, a' reel mounted for rotation on the shaft, annular contact plates engagin the bearing sleeves, a sprin having one en thereof secured to the she and its opposite end fastened to the reel, a conductor extending through. the opening in one of the lon itudinal bars of the frame with its termina s disposed in contact with the adjacent bearing sleeves, and a suspension cord having its terminals connected with the annular contact plates of the reel.

6. In a device of the class described, a supportin frame including sipaced longitudinal %ars connected by en pieces having ockets formed therein, there being an openm formed in one of the bars, and a long1- tu inal slot in the other, cured to the end rgieces at said pockets, filling blocks carried y the sleeves, a stationary shaft anchoredin the filling blocks, a reel bearing sleeves seeoeeee mounted for rotation on the shaft, annular contact plates secured to the reel and engaging the bearing sleeves,,e spring having one end thereof secured to the shaft and-its opposite end secured to the reel, a conductor projecting through the opening in said her and having its terminals seated Within the pockets for contact with the bearing sleeves, and a susnension cord adapted to be Wound upon the reel end having its terminals connected with the annular plates of said reel.

7. In a device of the class described, a. supporting frame, bearings secured to the opposite ends of the'frame, a stationary shaft anchored in said frame, a reel mounted for rotation on the shaft and including spaced heads connected by longitudinal bsrs, sn-

whic is secured to the shaft end the o 90' site end to one of the connecting bars 0 the reel, disks disposed on opposite sides of the spring, a conductor connected ings, and a suspension cord adapted to be Wound upon the reel and having its terminals connected with the annular contactplstes on said reel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ABRAHAM W. F'RATT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. Jonssccon, ROBERT W. JOHNSTON.

with the besr- 

